(a) Intent. The intent of the Subdivision Open Space Plan is to promote the following objectives:
(1) Provide a more desirable living environment by preserving the natural character of open fields, stands of trees, brooks, hills, and similar natural assets.
(2) Encourage developer to use a more creative approach in the development of residential areas.
(3) Encourage a more efficient, aesthetic, and desirable use of open space while recognizing a reduction in development costs and by allowing the developer to bypass natural obstacles on the site.
(4) Encourage the provision of open space within reasonable distance to all lot development of the subdivision and to encourage further the development of recreational facilities.
(b) Procedure. Modifications to the standards as outlined in Section 1161.01
may be made in the Single Family Residential Districts when the following conditions are met:
(1) The lot area in all Single Family Residential Districts which are served by a public sanitary sewer and water system may be reduced up to twenty percent (20%). In the "R-4" District, this reduction may be accomplished in part by reducing lot widths up to five feet. In the "R-1," "R-2," and "R-3" Districts, the lot width reduction may be up to ten feet. These lot area reductions shall be permitted provided that the dwelling unit density shall be no greater than if the land area to be subdivided were developed in the minimum square foot lot areas as required under Section 1161.01
. All calculations shall be predicated upon the Single Family Districts having the following gross densities (including roads):
"R-1" = 1.5 Dwelling units per acre
"R-2" = 2.2 Dwelling units per acre
"R-3" = 2.9 Dwelling units per acre
"R-4" = 3.6 Dwelling units per acre
(2) Rear yards may be reduced to thirty feet when such lots border on land dedicated for park, recreation, and/or open space purposes provided that the width of such dedicated land shall not be less than ninety feet measured at the point at which it abuts the rear yard of the adjacent lot.
(3) Dedicated land shall not include bodies of water, swamps, or land with excessive grades making it unsuitable for recreation. All dedicated land shall be so graded and developed as to have natural drainage. The entire area may, however, be located in a flood plain.
(4) The developer or subdivider shall dedicate the total park area at the time of filing the final plat. In no instance shall dedication be less than five acres.
(Ord. 74-8. Passed 10-3-74.)